(1) England does not have a formal government or constitution, and a specifically English role in contemporary government and
politics is hard to identify in any formal sense, for these operate on a nationwide British basis.

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Birth of the British Empire

English merchants began to seek distant markets for their goods. In 1600 the British East India Company established trading posts in India. In 1607 England settled its first colony in what would later become the United States.

Over the next 300 years, England established a huge worldwide empire of colonies. England grew wealthy from trading in tobacco from the Americas, slaves from Africa, and spices from India.

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